The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-14
STORIES OF MR. sEEcHER.
The Church Bible, Bath-Tub Baptists
and Peekskill Strawberries.
From the Nelo York Evening Sun.

From the NeU York EUeniIlg Sun.
The great bible that lies on the reading
desk of Plymouth church is filled with me-
mentoS and memoranda placed there for
preservation by Mr.. Beecher. 1t was al
ways his habit to slip between its pages a
note or nosegay he wished to keep, and L
have heard him say that in turning the
leaves of this book when preaching faces
and scenes of other days would be brought
to mind by slip of paper incribed with
some message or a flower. | met Mr..
Beecher one day when he was having his
portrait painted by LeClair. as he stepped
street. | had not seen him for ten years.
He grasped my hand warmly, but did not
speak my name.
who am If' said, rather hurt that he
had forgotten.
You are the one that gave me the little
bunch of forget-me-nots ON such date.
They are in my Bible"
How old You have grownm said.
us it not time, my child" he answered.
He did not ask my name, but as we walked
along together and I referred to my boy,
Mr.. Beecher said, ''What is his nance
spoke my childs first name only, be
cause was piqued that my own name had
slipped from his memory.
Few of the older members of Plymouth
church but recollect the revival of 1858. when
so many young people united with the church
the first Sabbath morning in May. On the
Friday evening previous Mr.. Beecher i'm
mersed those who preferred this form to that
of Sprinkling. On the next morning he
came into the lecture room, where early
meetings were held, exclaiming: Show
are the bath-tub Baptists this morning"
The beautiful Annie Howard was one of
the number who was immersed. | renem-
I@rrr oh, 70
Beecher to beg him to dance with her at a
little gathering of young folks one evening.
But Mr.. Beecher would not be persuaded.
Frequently the great preacher referred to
the light-hearted girl who was so Intimately
associated with his own daughter, after
death had cut short her young life.
During the war the ladies of the church
met in the social circle parlors to sew for
the soldiers, particularly the Brooklyn
made up of Plymouth church boys Mrs.
Beecher, in her dainty blue lawn gown, is
fresh in my memory. Mr. Beecher had
gone to Washington for the first time, and
more or less anxiety was felt at having him
so far South in those turbulent times. He
had not written to his wife. She was so
worried she could scarcely compose herself
to cut out the garments, which was her
task. She stood with her back to the door
of the room when Mr.. Beecher came in
quietly and put his arms around her-and
Mrs Beecher cried.
These We're the days before large straw
berries were plentiful-whan only the small
sorts were cultivated for the market Mr.
Beecher raised on the Peeksbill farm NAM
moth berries, such as are now displayed to
gain prizes. They We're sent daily to his
Brooklyn home in profusion. Everyone
who called there had their fill of strawber-
ries and cream
Mr.. Beecher's generosity toward all classes
was proverbial. After his return from
Europe the second time he took sincere
pleasure in distributing the gifts he had
brought back. He had forgotten no one
among his friends. A jeweled pendant for
his daughter-in- law that was to be, curious
pocketbooks for his deacons, and paper cut
ters with handles Of the Alpine goats hoofs.